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Melanoma

About Melanoma

Melanocytes are cells that produce melanin — the pigment that colours our skin. Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that originates in melanocytes. It is a less common, but most dangerous form of skin cancer and can originate in any part of the body that contains the skin pigment producing cells.

Melanoma content

Causesa

The main cause of skin cancer is exposure to the ultraviolet radiation from sun. Roughly 10 percent of melanomas are familial i.e. they occur in the family members.

Risk factors

Individuals with dysplastic or atypical nevi (irregular bordered mole-like growth on skin) carry a 20-fold more risk of developing malignant melanoma. High nevus counts (more than 25) and indoor tanning beds are the other risk factors. According to a study, sun tanning craze has caused a marked increase in melanoma cases in women between 40 to 50 years of age.

Symptoms

Although the condition is uncommon, one should always be cautious about any abnormality in any area of the skin like:

Pink or black spots

Redness and swelling

Peeling

Bleeding or development of an open sore

Thickness

Skin changes may also occur due to damage caused by the sun. Some people — especially those with fair skin — can get crusty, coarse, or bumpy spots. These spots are called ‘actinic keratoses’, and are often found on the face, ears, arms or scalp, and can sometimes turn into skin cancer.

These symptoms are common missed out or thought to be due to some sort of skin ailment. This tends to delay treatment and diagnosis.

Diagnosis

A biopsy is the only way to diagnose the condition. When a patient visits a doctor, he/she will first do a physical examination of the skin and then suggest a biopsy based on his/her suspicions. The doctor takes a small sample of the abnormal area or removes the whole abnormal area. Then a pathologist examines the skin cells under a microscope to check for cancer.

Treatment

A melanoma cancer, if caught early, can be cured with relatively minor surgery. Melanomas which are hard to treat have been found to be potentially sensitive to MEK inhibitors.

Prevention

There are few studies that shed light on various factors that play a key role in the prevention of melanoma. These are -

Aspirin: A US study has found that women consuming aspirin reduce their risk of developing melanoma, and the longer they take the medicine, the lower risk they have. The findings suggest that aspirin’s anti-inflammatory effects may help protect against this type of skin cancer.